HAPPY KIND YEAR !!!!

Yeah, that's right!!  

This is my first post of 2012, so I'm wishing you a belated HAPPY one.  

And a year filled with kindness to ourselves.

It's about time I gave this blog some attention!

I wanted to post this canvas collage that I started at Brave Girls Camp, and finally finished.

I wanted the message to stand out clearly, and be supported by soft happy images and textures.  Using colors and florals that are positive and make me happy.

I was experimenting with using different techniques and textures:  painting, drawing, distressing, texture medium, glazing, glitter, fabric.  

The flowers are all painted with acrylic paint, and then I gave them definition by drawing over them with a black superfine Sharpie.

The "KIND" letters are made of chipboard that I punched with images using chip art tools, then painted, distressed with different inks and glazed...all with the intent of making them look like leather.  After all that abuse, they even feel like leather!

Then I wanted soft lace to go over the flowers (perhaps like a window's curtain in the breeze, floating over the view of a flower garden), so I used a clear gel medium and some neat-o vintage plastic doilies to make the lace.  After that dried overnight, I held my breath as I rubbed on the white-washing because I didn't want to totally obscure the flowers.  There was a lot of pouncing on and then wiping off, to get just the right effect.

The gingham trim is real cotton trim that I soaked in modpodge, which both adhered it and made it stiff.  Some glittery red letters and the turquoise birdy balance out the design.

This message is important to me, as a reminder to myself to be kind not only in deeds, but in thoughts.  

And not just to others, but to myself, which is often the most difficult person to be kind to.

Does that resonate with you too?

It's hung over our back door, so that it might also serve as a gentle reminder to my family as they go out into the world.  

"in the end, only KINDNESS matters......"

I don't know if anyone looks at this blog anymore, since I haven't posted for months.  But if you do, and you'd like to share your thoughts, I'd love to get your comments!!!  TFL!!!